Dalit organizations seek CBI inquiry into youth's murder

KANNUR: Mystery still shrouds the death of Karakkadan Vineesh, a dalit youth who was found dead near Azhikode at Thaliparamba four years ago.
Dalit organizations held a citizens' right convention in Kannur on Wednesday demanding a CBI probe into the death.
Though there is a law to handle the atrocities against dalits, it is not properly implemented and this has led to the victims being denied justice, as was seen in the case of Vineesh, said the activists who addressed the convention organized by the Kerala Pattika Jana Samajam (KPJS).
Even after the case was handed over to the Internal Security Investigation Team (ISIT) under the home department, the chargesheet is yet to be filed.
"There are 533 cases under the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act in which chargesheets were filed in Kannur since 1989 but there was not even single case of conviction, which points towards the attitude of the authorities towards the issue of atrocities against the dalits," said activist Thekan Sunil Kumar.
Writer and social activist M N Karassery, who inaugurated the meeting said this kind of a murder in the hands of the so-called moral police is a blot on the society and should not be repeated in the future.
"It is heard that Vineesh was killed by a group of religious extremists following some allegations raised against him. But no religious group has the right to execute a person."
Though two people, including a Tamil Nadu native were held on the same day, they were released apparently following the interference of a CPM leader, alleged activist Sunil Kumar.
Dalit activist M Geethanandan, said there is nexus between the police and politicians that sabotages the atrocities against the Dalits.
"Even after the case reaches prosecution stage, justice is denied and in this case also the condition is the same," said Geethanandan.
"This is the case throughout the country and the Dalits are denied their rights."
It was on April 17, 2010 that the body of Vineesh was found hanging from the ceiling of a lodge where he was staying.
If the government fails to order a high-level probe into the case, the Dalit organizations will organize massive protests in the coming days, said activistKumar.